When the Winnipeg Goldeyes chose to play the first two games of their best-of-five series at home, they were probably feeling pretty confident that they would head to Lincoln with a 2-0 lead in the series, and would need just one win in Nebraska to advance to the championship. You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men?

For the third time in this series, the Saltdogs took an early lead in the game, and for the second time they held on to win it, this time with the 9-2 win. Nick Green gave up some early hits, but made great pitches when he needed to, getting key outs and maintaining the lead his team had given him.

On the other side Matthew Jackson struggled and did not last through the third. The Saltdogs got their offense going early, scoring two in the second on two hits. Brian Joynt began the rally with a lead-off single and Jeremy Hamilton followed with a double sending Joynt to third. With Brandon Pinckney at the plate Jackson was called for a balk, sending Joynt across the plate and moving Hamilton to third. Mike Gilmartin then followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Hamilton and it was 2-0.

In the bottom of the third the Saltdogs got right back on the scoreboard. With one out Luis Nunez singled and moved to second on a single by Matt Forgatch. Ian Gac walked to load the bases and Joynt followed with a single to score Nunez. Hamilton then followed with a single of his own, scoring Forgatch and keeping the bags loaded. One out later Gilmartin singled sending both Gac and Joynt across the plate and the score was 6-0. Jackson was done for the game, and was relieved by Barry Fowler.

In the top of the fifth the Goldeyes finally got on the board. Brock Bond singled against Green to start the inning. Jake Blackwood hit into a fielder’s choice and he advanced to third on a double by Tyler Kuhn. Casey Haerther then grounded to short, scoring Blackwood and making the score 6-1.

If the Goldeyes thought they were back into the game, the feeling did not last for long. The Saltdogs responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three and extending the lead to 9-2. Gabe Aguilar took over on the hill, and got the first out.  That brought Taylor Sewitt back to the mound. He gave up a single to Pinckney and a walk to Gilmartin to put runners on first and second. One out later Chad Mozingo walked to load the bases. That brought Nunez to the plate who hit a 1-2 pitch into left field for a single that scored Pinckney and Gilmartin, extending the lead to 8-2. Forgatch then singled to drive home Mozingo.

The nine runs were plenty enough for Green who seemed to get better as the game went along.  He was finally pulled after seven innings, but not before pitching a gem, allowing 11 hits, 1 run and 1 walk. Jake Meiers took over in the eighth and gave up a run-scoring sacrifice fly to Luis Alen in the eighth, but there was going to be no dramatic comeback this night. Meiers pitched a scoreless ninth, finishing off the 9-2 victory.

Joynt finished with a 2-5 night, and was instrumental in both of the early game raillies. Forgatch and Hamilton both had three hits, and Gilmartin finished with three RBI.

Monday night’s series clincher will be a rematch of Game 1 with lefty Chris Salamida going to the mound against right-hander Joe Bisenius in Lincoln. The winner of tomorrow night’s game will face the winner of the Laredo-Wichita series starting Wednesday night.

By Robert Pannier
Senior Baseball Editor
Member of the IBWAA

Winnipeg Goldeyes Lincoln Saltdogs
		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Winnipeg 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 14 1 Lincoln 0 2 4 0 3 0 0 0 x 9 13 0

Pitching Stats

Winnipeg
#	Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
39	Jackson, M	2.2	8	6	6	2	2	20.25
27	Fowler, B	1.1	0	0	0	1	1	0.00
44	Aguilar, G	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
24	Sewitt, T	0.2	3	3	3	2	1	13.50
23	Bollinger, R	3.0	2	0	0	1	1	0.00
		8	13	9	9	6	5

Lincoln
#	Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
23	Green, N	7.0	11	1	1	1	3	1.29
41	Meiers, J	2.0	3	1	1	0	0	4.50
		9	14	2	2	1	3